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As Cairngorm burned and Ireland’s two helicopters ‘pounded’ a wildfire, the RAF’s only two firefighting helicopters were in Cyprus ‘In defence of the UK’s strategic interests’

johnrobertson834

Thanks to rtpscott for alerting us to this. From RAF Odiham News on 21 May 2026, the above image and: Across the training period, crews have been practising the full firefighting cycle – dipping the suspended bucket into open water before delivering controlled drops over designated areas. This essential training ensures crews are prepared to support wildfire response efforts as the season begins, protecting lives, infrastructure, and the environment. In July 2025, the Flight played a vital role in supporting Cypriot authorities during the island’s largest wildfires since 1974, operating intensively over two days to help contain the fires. As … Continue reading As Cairngorm burned and Ireland’s two helicopters ‘pounded’ a wildfire, the RAF’s only two firefighting helicopters were in Cyprus ‘In defence of the UK’s strategic interests’

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Burnham needs to copy SNP policies to reduce massive gap in youth unemployment, 55% higher ‘across the UK’ than in Scotland

johnrobertson834

BBC Home today reporting on the new PM’s latest announcement: Secondary school pupils in England will be able to study subjects like manufacturing and AI in addition to core academic learning under reforms outlined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The government said the courses, which would be available from Year 10, would be linked to local industries and designed to give children a clearer pathway into work. Data published this year showed more than one million young people across the UK were not in education, employment or training, the highest level in more than 12 years. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4k2djd5qpo This follows on … Continue reading Burnham needs to copy SNP policies to reduce massive gap in youth unemployment, 55% higher ‘across the UK’ than in Scotland

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Scottish Government accused of being too late to plan for soaring house prices after extreme August rainfall in Cairngorms

johnrobertson834

Happened upon this forecast for rainfall in August, beginning next week and couldn’t help seeing that dark blue blob and wider dark green area encompassing the Cairngorms and Nethy Bridge which suggests significantly higher-than-average rainfall there. What are the locals, well just three of the 670, the local Tory MP and the media going to do now? Suggestions wanted in the comments section below for the August headlines along the lines of: Scottish Government too slow to ensure adequate supply of gumboots for residents more familiar with weather in Essex! Scottish Government accused of wasting money on a helicopter like … Continue reading Scottish Government accused of being too late to plan for soaring house prices after extreme August rainfall in Cairngorms

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Surely that should read ‘Charities call on Burnham to ‘build like the Scottish Government’ as they built 46 114 to his pathetic 2 368

johnrobertson834

I’m guessing that Scotland News Editor Neil Pooran is less informed on this than he should be or he wouldn’t be hurting us this way, informed as we are, in our ribs. He writes, under that rib-tickly headline: Homeless Network Scotland, which is made up of 40 organisations in the sector, wants to see at least 15,700 quality affordable homes completed each year in order to end the housing emergency. It comes after Andy Burnham pledged the “biggest council house building programme since the post-war period”. The coalition of charities is calling on the Scottish Government to commit to matching … Continue reading Surely that should read ‘Charities call on Burnham to ‘build like the Scottish Government’ as they built 46 114 to his pathetic 2 368

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SNP Government accused of not predicting which way the wind blows as local shouts ‘Theatre!!!’

johnrobertson834

By Alasdair Macdonald BBC ‘Scotland’, some unionist politicians, most of the ‘Scottish’ newspapers, and other UK media, probably via the Press Association have given the Cairngorms wildfire extensive coverage, but as well as than reporting on tackling the fire they have used vox pops from two people in the Nethy Bridge area to ‘slam’ the Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue. The chair of the local community council is a retired photographer who worked for the P&J in Aberdeen and it is likely that he has used contacts in the media to get his political point across. BBC ‘Scotland’, … Continue reading SNP Government accused of not predicting which way the wind blows as local shouts ‘Theatre!!!’

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Over 55% of Scots to pay less income tax than if they lived in England – Confirmed

johnrobertson834

From Scottish tax payers comparison to English counterparts: FOI release, published last Friday: On Tuesday 13th January 2026, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government whilst addressing Holyrood stated that: “As a result, even more people in Scotland can expect to pay less tax than if they lived in England, Northern Ireland or Wales. That’s over 55 per cent of Scots set to pay less income tax because they live in Scotland.” Please can you supply the following information. 1. What was the specific median income figure used in the production of this data? 2. What was the income … Continue reading Over 55% of Scots to pay less income tax than if they lived in England – Confirmed

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MoD admits it had no firefighting aircraft capable of helping with Cairngorm wildfire while the Air Corps in Ireland is currently ‘pounding’ a smaller one

johnrobertson834

See the video at: https://www.viory.video/en/videos/a3032_23072026/it-s-a-long-spray-to-tipperary-irish-air-corps-helicopter-pounds-slievenamon-mountain-blaze-with-repeated-water-drops By stewartb Something for the unhappy residents of Nethy Bridge to reflect upon? From The National (July 26): ‘UK fails to provide wildfire water‑bombing support for Cairngorms fire’. ‘ ‘John Swinney said the Scottish Government had requested aerial support to drop water on the fire but was told that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) did not have such equipment. (my emphasis) And: ‘The First Minister said: “The Scottish Government requested military assistance, in the form of aerial support to drop water on the fire, from the Ministry of Defence to supplement existing aerial resources that are in place. “We have received … Continue reading MoD admits it had no firefighting aircraft capable of helping with Cairngorm wildfire while the Air Corps in Ireland is currently ‘pounding’ a smaller one

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Still challenged but Scotland’s care system is years ahead of any plans Burnham has

johnrobertson834

As the new PM is pressed on England’s failing social care system, we sometimes hear, not on BBC Scotland of course, that though still challenged, Scotland system after nearly 20 years of centre-left government by the SNP is well ahead. What’s the evidence? What has the SNP done differently? In Scotland, there is free personal care for all adults assessed as needing it. This was introduced for over-65s in 2002 and extended to working-age adults in 2019. This covers help with personal hygiene, continence, diet, mobility, and simple treatments, whether at home or in a care home. The upper threshold … Continue reading Still challenged but Scotland’s care system is years ahead of any plans Burnham has

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Largs community councillor and Herald really taking the p***, in the gutter, and discreetly between the car doors

johnrobertson834

In the Herald today: A community councillor has renewed calls to reopen public toilets in Largs, warning that long ferry queues are leading to people urinating in nearby streets. Andy Adair, 85, said the issue had been raised previously but that he was advised to report incidents of public urination to police rather than seek a wider solution. As I remember, there’s a big toilet block near the terminal. Regardless of the length of the queues, why aren’t they using the public toilets, only yards from the terminal? Further down, we read: Ah, the public toilets are closed? Is that not … Continue reading Largs community councillor and Herald really taking the p***, in the gutter, and discreetly between the car doors